Shock absorbing buffer

ABSTRACT

A bumper of the shock absorbing system to be attached to the front and the rear of the automobile, said bumper being a tubular hollow member consisting of an elastic material, such as a soft synthetic resin and the like, the inside thereof being filled with fluid, e.g., liquid or gas, it being so arranged that the fluid inside said tubular hollow member can flow into an absorbing hollow member communicating with said tubular hollow member through a resistance tube or a check valve exclusively when the bumper receives a shock.

United States Patent Matsuura 51 Oct. 3, 197;

[ 1 SHOCK ABSORBING BUFFER [72] Inventor: Hirotsugu Matsuura, 1-32, 5- chome, Kudo, Oji-cho, Kitakatsuragi-gun, Nara-ken, Japan [22] Filed: Sept. 14, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 71,723

[52] US. Cl. ..293/70, 180/92, 267/116, 267/112, 267/139, 293/1, 293/60, 293/71 P,

[51] Int'. Cl. .....B60r 19/08, B6lf 19/04, B6lq 11/12 [58] Field of Search....1 16/28; 293/1, 51 F, 66, 71 R, 293/71 P, 88, 98, 60, 70; 180/92; 267/116,

[561 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,843,902 2/1932 Ridge ..180/92 2,873,994 2/1959 Omps ..293/86 3,588,159 6/1971 Duckett et al ..293/1 3,588,158 6/1971 Walker et a1. ..293/1 3,187,710 6/1965 Wilfert ..116/28 3,572,799 3/1971 Truesdell et a1. ..293/1 2,614,877 10/1952 Benian ..293/71 R 1 1,485,332 2/1924 Edwards ..293/71 R 1 1,601,641 9/1926 Ostria ..293/71 1 2,128,656 8/1938 Long ..293/61 2,147,745 2/1939 MacKinnon ..293/98 2,236,507 4/1941 Kreitz ..293/71 1 3,014,710 12/1961 Layne ..293/88) Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point Assistant Examiner-Howard Beltran Attorney-George B. Oujevolk [57] ABSTRACT A bumper of the shock absorbing system to be at tached to the front and the rear of the automobile said bumper being a tubular hollow member consistin; of an elastic material, such as a soft synthetic resi1 and the like, the inside thereof being filled with fluid e.g., liquid or gas, it being so arranged that the fluil inside said tubular hollow member can flow into a1 absorbing hollow member communicating with sail tubular hollow member through-a resistance tube or 1 check valve exclusively when the bumper receives shock.

4 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PATENTEnuma m2 I 3.695.665

SHEET 1 UF 3 BY Qame ali m/k SHOCK ABSORBING BUFFER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an automobile bumper and SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Broadly stated, the invention contemplates a bumper for vehicles, such as an automobile or a truck, with an elastic tubular hollow member filled with liquid or gas, a part of the fluid inside the tubular hollow member being caused to flow into an absorbing hollow member communicating with the tubular hollow member through a resistance tube or a check valve in case of a shock being given to the bumper, thereby substantially reducing the impact to the car.

The resistance. tube consists of an elastic tubular member made of rubber, a constricted part being formed between two tubular parts, a number of slender grooves being formed inside said constricted part, the components being so arranged that, in case pressure is applied to the fluid, the constricted part expands to allow the fluid to flow into the other tubular part' through the slender grooves thereof. Furthermore, when the fluid is free from pressure, the constricted part is narrowed with its slender grooves in a blocked state, thereby preventing the fluid from flowing from one tubular part into another tubular part.

When a shock is given to the bumper, the flow of the fluid from the tubular'hollow member into the absorbing hollow member is comparatively slow through a resistance tube or a check valve, thereby absorbing the initial impact of the shock applied to the bumper, as a result of which the direct shock given to the automobile and the driver through the ordinary hard metal bumper is greatly relieved.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Thus, it is an object of the invention to so arrange the components that the bumper consisting of an elastic tubular hollow member filled with fluid will communicate with the absorbing hollow member through a check valve or a resistance tube, the fluid inside the tubular hollow member being discharged into the absorbing member through the check valve or the resistance tube when an increasing pressure is applied to the bumper consisting of a tubular hollow member filled with the fluid, said discharged fluid being retained inside the absorbing hollow member. z

It is also an object of the invention to so arrange the components that the shock given to the car will be transmitted slowly, by interposing a check valve or a re sistance tube between the bumper consisting of a tubular hollow member filled with fluid and the absorbing hollow member which absorbs said fluid, so that the fluid will flow comparatively slowly from the tubular hollow member into the the absorbing hollow member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bumper consisting of an elastic tubular hollow member filled with fluid by dividing it into a number of blocks, thereby reducing the cost and simplifying the construction.

A further object of the invention is to so arrange the components that the absorbing hollow member will consist of an elastic material which has a greater con tractile force than that of the tubular hollow member so that the fluid which flowed from the tubular hollov member into the absorbing hollow member may be restored to the tubular hollow member through the re sistance tube by the contractile force of the absorbing member itself. Since slender grooves are provided in side the resistance tube, the contractile force of the ab sorbing hollow member enables the fluid therein to bl gradually restored through said slender grooves thereby afiording the advantage of constructional sim plicity and practical convenience.

The foregoing objects are attainable by the improve ment and combination of each component part con stituting the invention, the embodiments whereof wil be illustrated by the detailed description to be set fortl hereinunder in reference to the annexed drawing, ii which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an automobile equippei with the bumpers of the invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are plans showing the respective em bodiments of the bumpers used in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken at lV-IV in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of another embodiment o the bumper shown in FIG. 4. I

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another embodiment o the bumpers shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein thl bumper consists of elastic material filled with fluid am is divided into three equal parts. a

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a bumper similar to th of FIG. 6, wherein the tubular hollow member is di vided into five equal parts.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a reinforcement meta outside plate of a bumper, wherein several reinforce ment ribs are provided lengthwise.

FIG; 9-is a sectional view of a bumper equipped wit] the reinforcement metal outside plate of FIG. 8 on th outside thereof.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the shock absorptio1 factor of the bumper when no reinforcement metal out side plate is used for said bumper.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the shock absorptioi factor of the bumper when said bumper is equippei with the reinforcement metal outside plate.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a resistance tube em ployed in the invention.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the resistance tube i: case the fluid passes therethrough.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken at XIV-XIV i FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken at XV-XV in PIC FIG. 16 is a plan showing another embodiment of th bumper.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the bumper in FIG. I viewed from the left side.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken at XUIIIXVIII i FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIGS. 1 to 5 the automobile A is equipped wit bumpers l 1,12 at the front and the rear thereof resper tively, eachbumper consisting of a tubular hollo nber 13 formed with elastic material, such as her, soft synthetic resin and the like-,'-the inside of l tubular hollow member 13 being filled with fluid such as liquid, gas and the like. a

urthermore, each of the bumpers 11,12 consisting ubular hollow member is equipped with a reinforce it core plate 15 on the reverse side thereof as shown I08. 4 and 5, an arm 16 being led out from said a plate 15,-each of the bumpers 11,12 being lnted to the automobile A by means of said arm 16.

loreover, it is so arranged that the bumper willcomiicate with the absorbing hollow member 17' )ugh a check valve 18 or a resistance tube 19 pro- :d between the bumper which consists of a tubular ow member 13 and the absorbing hollow member which isprovided separately from the bumper and sists of elastic material of a greater contractile :e, so that the fluid 14 inside the bumper can flow I the absorbing hollow member 17 when a shock is lied to the bumper.

IG. 5 shows another embodiment of the bumpers 'il rated in FIGS. 2 to 4, wherein a front and a rear mber 21,22 are formed by providing .a partition'20 de the bumper 11 consisting of..an elastic tubularow member, a tubular-hollow member 13 filled 1 fluid being housed in the chamber 21 and an ab- Jing hollow member 17 being housed in the mber 22 respectively, it being so arranged that said members will communicate witheach other"- rugh a check valve provided therebetween. Elastic :erial of a greater contractile force than that of the ular hollow member 13 is used for the absorbing ow member 17, thereby enabling the fluid which red from the tubular hollow member 13 into the abnbers, a, b, c, communicates with the absorbing holmember 34 through pipes 33. Moreover, each pipe s provided with a resistance tube 35, the fluid flowfrom the tubular hollow member 32 into the abring hollow member 34 through said resistance :s 35. i'case of the embodiment shown "in FIG. 7, the iper 31 consists of a tubular hollow member 32 ch is divided into five equal parts, a, b, c, d, e. lhen the bumper 31 is divided into three or five al parts as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and a-shock is n to one part of the bumper 31, the consequential act is applied only to one of the tubular hollow nbers 32 corresponding to the'part of the bumper re the shock was given, consequently the fluid insaid tubular hollow member alone flows into the )rbing hollow member 34 through the resistance 2 35; l other words, it is the fluid inside the tubular holmember that received a shock that is strongly ed into the absorbing hollow member 34 through with effect.

FIG. 8 shows still another embodiment of the invention, which is a reinforcement metal outside plate 37 for the bumpers shown in FIGS. 6v and 7, the internal wall of said plate 37 being provided with several reinforcement ribs 36. p v

FIG. 9 shows an instancewherein a reinforcement metal outside plate 37 provided with reinforcement ribs 36 is fitted to the outside of the bumper 31 consisting-- of elastic material. When the bumper 31- is equipped with the reinforcement metal outside plate 37, if a shock is given to one part of the bumper the impact is transmitted all over the bumper by the reinforcement metal outside plate 37, thereby remarkably increasing the shock absorption factor of the bumper.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the fact that, in case no reinforcement metal outside plate 37 isfitted to the outside of the bumper 11, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bumper is locally pressedby a shock', the shock absorbing effect being extremely reduced as a result.

FIG. 11 is a diagram "showing the fact that, in case a reinforcement metal outside plate 37 provided with reinforcement ribs 36 therein, as shown in FIG. 8, is fitted to the bumper 31, a shock (B) applied'to the V bumper 31 acts as uniform impact thereto, with the result that the shock absorption factor of the bumper 31 is remarkably increased.

Each of the bumpersshowri in FIGS. 11 and 12 can be used for the bumper of the shock absorbing system according to the invention.

- FIGS. 12 to15 show the resistance tube employed in the invention, which consists of a tubular member 35 of elastic material, such, as rubber and the like, a constricted part 43 being formed between two elastic tubular parts 41,42, a number of slender grooves 44 being provided through the constricted part 43, said constricted part 43 expanding as shown in FIG. 13 when the fluid under pressure flows from one tubular part 41 into the other tubular part43, thereby allowing the fluid to flow through the slender grooves 44 thereof.

Furthermore, when the fluid is free from pressure, the constricted part 43 is constricted narrowly with the slender grooves 44 thereof being in a bloeked state, thereby preventing the fluid 14 from flowing from the tubular part 41 into the tubular part 42.

FIGS. 16 to 18 show another embodiment of the bumper wherein the bumper 51 consists of a tubular hollow member 52 formed with elastic material, such as rubber, soft synthetic resin and the like, just as inthe case of the bumper shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a number of thick projections 53 being erected on the front part thereof, said thick projections 53 effectively absorbing weak shocks that may be given to the automobile driven at low speed.

The numeral 54 designates a reinforcement metal outside plate mounted on the'front of the tubular hollow member 52. Said reinforcement metal outside plate 54 is provided with a number of penetrating holes 55, the projections 53 of the tubular hollow member 52 being caused to protrude therethrough.

The reinforcement metal outside'plate 54 has the effect of preventing the bumper 51' from receiving a pressure of impact locally by dispersing said pressure all over the bumper 51 in case the shock is given from the diagonally right or left direction to the front of the automobile. I

The numeral 14designates fluid filled inside the tubular hollow member 52, 15 designating a reinforcement core plate, 16 designating arms with which to fix the bumper 51 to the automobile.

Furthermore, the tubular hollow member 52 and the absorbing hollow member 58 communicate with each other through pipes 57 with a resistance member 56, such as a check valve, a resistance tube and the like, interposed therebetween.

As set forth above, in case of the bumper shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, the fluid filled inside the tubular hollow member 52 flows into the absorbing hollow member 58 through a resistance member 56, such as a check valve, a resistance tube and the like, if pressure is given to the tubular hollow member 52 as a result of an accident, such as a collision and the like, that may arise while the automobile is driven, part of the pressure being thereby absorbed by the absorbing hollow member 58.

In this embodiment of the bumper in particular, the thick projections 53 provided on the front face of the tubular hollow member 52 have the effect of absorbing weak shocks that may be given to the automobile driven at low speed. Moreover, the reinforcement metal outside plate mounted on the tubular hollow member 52 provided with thick projections 53 thereon has the effect of preventing the bumper 51 from receiving the pressure of impact locally by dispersing said pressure all over the bumper 51 in case the shock is given from the diagonally right or left direction to the front of the automobile.

As described heretofore, the bumper of the shock absorbing system according to the invention prevents accidents arising from unexpected collisions between vehicles by reducing the impact given to the bumper, wherein the fluid filled inside a tubular hollow member consisting of elastic material is pressed by the impact and flows into an absorbing hollow member through a resistance tube, thereby reducing the impact.

Upon receipt of impact, the fluid inside the tubular hollow member decreases its volume, increases its pressure, and flows into the absorbing hollow member through a check valve or a resistance tube.

Since a fixed amount of fluid is caused to flow through a check valve or a resistance tube which is comparatively restrictive, the impact to the bumper is remarkably relieved.

After the impact ceases, the fluid can be automati cally restored to the tubular hollow member througl the resistance tube, provided that said resistance tube is used, by means of the contractile force of the absorbing hollow member, said absorbing hollow member con sisting of elastic material of very great contractilt force, the foregoing fact constituting another merit o: the bumper of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automobile bumper system wherein an elon gated bumper (31) is stretched across one end of an au tomobile, the front of said bumper being designed tc receive shock when said automobile end collides witl %?223 '5 :JiliiSJffiSiFfS'if lfilits store 2 fluid therein divided into a plurality of chamber: defined by said bumper (31);

b. a reinforcement metal outside plate (37) disposec over said bumper front side and, a plurality of reinforcement members extending across said bumpei front side and embedded therein;

c. a resistance tube (35) including fluid flow imped ing means therein connected to each of said cham bers, including first and second elastic tubulai parts (41,42) insaid resistance tube with a plurali ty of slender elastic grooves (44) defining a con stricted part (43) between said first and secon parts, said constricted part when free of fluid pres sure being normally in a blocked state, but expand ing to permit fluid passage when subject to fluii pressure.

. an absorbing hollow resilient contractible membe (34) of great contractible strength coupled to saii resistance tubes (35), whereby any shock appliei to any part of said bumper is distributed over thi entire bumper by said reinforce-members, ant fluid in said chambers flows through said re sistance tubes (35) to said contractible member expanding said member to absorb said shock, saii fluid returning slowly to its former position upo1 the bumper being free of said shock.

2. A bumper system as claimed in claim 1, said re sistance tube (35) having a check valve therein.

3. A bumper system as claimed in claim 1, said rein forcement members being longitudinal ribs attached t4 said reinforcement plate (37).

4. A bumper system as claimed in claim 1, said rein forcement members being a plurality of thick projec tions (53) on the front of said bumper, passing througl apertures in said reinforcing plate (54). 

1. In an automobile bumper system wherein an elongated bumper (31) is stretched across one end of an automobile, the front of said bumper being designed to receive shock when said automobile end collides with an object, the improvement therein comprising: a. a tubular hollow member (32) designed to store a fluid therein divided into a plurality of chambers defined by said bumper (31); b. a reinforcement metal outside plate (37) disposed over said bumper front side and, a plurality of reinforcement members extending across said bumper front side and embedded therein; c. a resistance tube (35) including fluid flow impeding means therein connected to each of said chambers, including first and second elastic tubular parts (41,42) in said resistance tube with a plurality of slender elastic grooves (44) defining a constricted part (43) between said first and second parts, said constricted part when free of fluid pressure being normally in a blocked state, but expanding to permit fluid passage when subject to fluid pressure. d. an absorbing hollow resilient contractible member (34) of great contractible strength coupled to said resistance tubes (35), whereby any shock applied to any part of said bumper is distributed over the entire bumper by said reinforce-members, and fluid in said chambers flows through said resistance tubes (35) to said contractible member, expanding said member to absorb said shock, said fluid returning slowly to its former position upon the bumper being free of said shock.
 2. A bumper system as claimed in claim 1, said resistance tube (35) having a check valve therein.
 3. A bumper system as claimed in claim 1, said reinforcement members being longitudinal ribs attached to said reinforcement plate (37).
 4. A bumper system as claimed in claim 1, said reinforcement members being a plurality of thick projections (53) on the front of said bumper, passing through apertures (55) in said reinforcing plate (54). 